Developing Life SkillsPlan of Work

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Magoffin County CES

Title:
Developing Life Skills
MAP:
Growing Self-Sufficient Families
Agents Involved:
Courtney Jenkins, Cathy Sparks, 4-H Agent
MAJOR PROGRAM 1:
Horticulture, Consumer and Home
MAJOR PROGRAM 2:
Food Preparation and Preservation
MAJOR PROGRAM 3:
Local Food Systems
MAJOR PROGRAM 4:
Communications and Expressive Arts
Situation:

Magoffin County consistently records one of the state's highest unemployment rates. In February 2016, Magoffin County ranked the highest at 21.6%, an alarming rate considering the second highest county rated 13.7%, evidencing a considerable deficit (www.kylmi.ky.gov).

Many factors have contributed to the county's high unemployment rate in recent years, namely the decline in the coal industry, resulting in an increasing number of the population seeking assistance in becoming more self-sufficient by developing life skills and honing in on home gardening, food preservation, sewing and financial education as a means of reducing costs and providing for their families.

The County Extension Council and local leaders recognized this and identified a need for general life skills education to reduce the economic burdens placed on families in the community during these tough times.

Long-Term Outcomes:

*Adults and families will become more financially stable as a result of Extension programming. 

*Adults and youth will become competent in home gardening and food preservation.

*Adults and youth will make positive contributions to the community and share their skills with others to sustain a better quality of life.

Intermediate Outcomes:

*Participants will become more proficient in utilizing the skills learned to become more self-sufficient.

*More individuals will begin growing and preserving their own food.

*Youth and adults will understand the importance of financial management and begin working toward a more financially stable future. 

*Individuals will share their knowledge with others.

Initial Outcomes:

*Individuals will learn life skills (i.e. home gardening, food preservation, basic sewing, and financial management)  through Extension programs.

*Participants will learn the importance of self-sufficiency and financial education.

*Youth will develop a better understanding of finances and budgeting. 

Evaluation:

Initial Outcome: Increased knowledge of home gardening, food preservation, sewing and financial education.

Indicator: Number of clients attending and being actively engaged in educational sessions.

Method: Observation and informal surveys

Timeline: Upon completion of the educational sessions.

 

Intermediate Outcome: Participants will begin utilizing the life skills they have learned.

Indicator: Increased communication on the subject in which clients demonstrate an understanding of the subject matter.

Method: Written surveys

Timeline: Upon completion of an educational series.

 

Long-term Outcome: Individuals reporting greater financial stability.

Indicator: Dollars saved on food-related purchases and other savings as a result of learned skills.

Method: Written surveys

Timeline:6-12 months after completion of educational series

 

Learning Opportunities:

Audience: Adults and Youth

Projector Activity: Gardening Classes

Content or Curriculum: Home Vegetable Gardening & Master Gardener

Inputs: UK CES Agents, CES Publications, Grant Funds

Date: Spring/Summer/Fall

 

Audience: Adults

Projector Activity: Food Preservation Classes

Content or Curriculum: Food Preservation Publications

Inputs: UK CES Agents, CES Publications, Grant Funds

Date: Summer

 

Audience: Youth

Projector Activity: Reality Store and Dollars and Sense 

Content or Curriculum: "It's Your Reality" & "Dollars and Sense" Curriculums

Inputs: UK CES Agents

Date: Fall/Spring

 

Audience: Adults and Youth

Projector Activity: Country Ham Project

Content or Curriculum: CES Country Ham Publications

Inputs: UK CES Agents, UK CES Specialists, CES Publications

Date: January-August

 

Audience: Adults and Youth

Projector Activity: Beginner's Sewing

Content or Curriculum: 4-H Sewing

Inputs: UK CES Agents, Volunteers, CES Publications

Date: January-March

 



Success Stories

Life Skills for Middle School Group

Author: Cathy Sparks

Major Program: Active Living and Health Promotions General

This fall, the Family Resource Center Director at the Herald Whitaker Middle School asked to partner with the FCS program to offer educational programming for a group of “At-Risk” middle school students.  As a result, we formed a group of 15 students who met each Friday for a life skills class.  Using the Botvin Life Skills curriculum, that has been adopted for use by the University of Kentucky Family and Consumer Sciences program, the students were instructed weekly with l

Full Story

Stitched Together Inter-generational Sewing Class

Author: Cathy Sparks

Major Program: Family Development General

Stitched Together Inter-generational Sewing Class              The Stitched Together Inter-generational Sewing Class was created as a part of the Berea Folk Arts and Culture Grant that Magoffin County Extension Office received.  We were awarded an additional $1,000.00, in addition to the amount requested, and therefore created the sewing class.  The class was designed for parents and their child or a grandparent, or caregiver and child to come to

Full Story

4-H Camp 2022-Post Pandemic

Author: Cathy Sparks

Major Program: Camping

4-H Camp 2022-Post Pandemic               The first experience that I had with 4-H Camp was 2021, during the Covid-19 Pandemic time, when masks were still required, even outdoors during activities, and the numbers were limited to half of the normal number attending.  My concerns about the livelihood of camp, post-pandemic, were numerous, among those being whether we would ever be able to recruit students to ever return to camp.  Trips to the elem

Full Story
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